World War 1

The Great World History Debate:

“Were German Militarism and Diplomacy Responsible for World War I?”

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The World War I, among other significant historical events, is the most deliberated event of the 20th century. Indeed, it is accredited to changing the course of the world's history giving it a new dimension to ponder on for the next centuries. Rise of communism, one of the world's most controversial ideologies, was linked to the catastrophic episode. Nonetheless, powerful empires like Austria, Turkey, Russia and Germany saw their rise and fall in communism. In addition, the war resulted to the most number of deaths and annihilation compared to other cataclysmic events in history.

In the light of these horrendous outcomes, an undying curiosity arose among renowned historians and researchers in search for answers as to who was the protagonist of the war. The underlying question has been whether Germany was solely responsible for World War I given their military strength and diplomatic prowess. Notorious Professor V.R. Berghahn and Professor Samuel R. Williamson clash in a battle of wit in attempts to shed clear lights on Germany as the cause of World War I.

Professor V.R. Berghahn believes that there is great depth of literature that evidences the role of Germany in the heinous unfolding. These evidences, both military and diplomatic certify the German empire as the main protagonist of the First World War (1914-1918). On the other hand, Professor Samuel R. Williamson strongly disagrees with Berghahn's proposition. He argues that many other countries apart from Germany played a central role in the build up to the war. As a result, we cannot, therefore, place the burden of responsibility to one country alone. We should rather mention all the culprits in our claims. Even though the debate is well documented, there is a consensus among historians that the causes of the First World War resonate around four major factors: military strength,...